Background
Ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation (NDE) is a powerful and proven method for monitoring structural health, allowing for real-time and in situ analysis thus reducing system down time for inspection. Ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation is often used in hazardous, high temperature environments, such as power generation, engine components, gun barrels, and remote aerospace applications. However, ultrasonic analysis of structures at high temperatures and/or on complicated geometries is problematic, requiring the means to permanently attach a transducer to the structure as well as to maintain good acoustic coupling.

Invention Description
The technology described herein is a sol-gel spray-on technique for depositing a variety of piezoelectric materials. A novel process is used to formulate powders for spray-on and to form the final piezoelectric sensing material. The material is sprayed with an air gun, like paint, directly onto the surface of a structure. The piezoelectric material adheres directly to the structure, eradicating the problem of structural adherence, creating very good acoustic coupling to the structure. The technology allows great flexibility for form composite materials that have very high Curie temperatures allowing for ultrasonic NDE at high temperatures (i.e. temperatures greater than 500C).

File Number: 3600